David Shaw, the former Stanford head coach and a distinguished figure in college football, is making a return to the NFL as the Denver Broncos' new senior personnel executive. Broncos' GM George Paton confirmed Shaw's hiring as the latest addition to the personnel staff, following the recent appointment of VP of Player Personnel Cody Rager in January.
Shaw’s impressive coaching pedigree includes a stellar tenure at Stanford from 2011 to 2022, where he became the winningest coach in the school's history and secured four Pac-12 Coach of the Year awards. His expertise and fresh perspective on evaluating both college and professional talent will be invaluable as the Broncos navigate their current roster and seek to end their eight-year playoff drought—the second-longest in the NFL.
Shaw’s connection to the Broncos is rooted not just in his recent interview for the team’s head coaching job in 2023, but also through the franchise's owners, Greg Penner, Carrie Walton Penner, and Condoleezza Rice, all of whom have strong ties to Stanford. The Penners and Rice observed Shaw’s remarkable success at Stanford up close, with Greg and Carrie Penner being Stanford alumni and Rice a long-time faculty member.
After stepping down from Stanford, Shaw was a sought-after candidate for several NFL head coaching positions, including interviews with the Titans and Chargers. His transition to the Broncos marks his first official NFL role since serving as an assistant coach in the league nearly two decades ago.
Shaw’s return to the NFL, particularly to a team with which he shares historical ties, promises to bring a blend of seasoned judgment and new insights to Denver’s football operations.
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